In all the events of life, You Must recognize the Divine Will. Adore and bless It, especially in the things which are the hardest for you.

~Padre Pio~

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FROM THE BOOK OF HEAVEN

V30 – 12.21.31 – “My daughter, to recognize what My Divine Will can do in the act of the creature forms the Divine Act in her; and in this act, as its foundation, My Divine Will places the Divine Beginning; and as it keeps forming, It invests it with Its Immutability, in such a way that the creature will feel in her act a Divine Beginning that never shows any sign of ending, and an Immutability that never changes. She will hear within herself the ringing of the little bell of her continued act that does its continuous course. This is the sign that the soul has received the Divine Beginning into her acts: the continuation—a prolixious act says God Dwelling in her and in her acts; it says Confirmation of the Good, because the Value, the Grace, the Power of a continued act is so great, that it fills the little voids of intensity of love, the little weaknesses to which the human nature is subject. It can be said that a continued act or virtue, is like the judge, the order, the sentry of the creature. This is why I care so much that your acts be continuous—because there is something of My Own inside of them, and I would feel My Act dishonored in yours.

“See, My daughter, My Ardor of Love is so great, that I want everything I have done for Love of creatures to be recognized; but this, for nothing else than to give. I feel a restlessness for giving, I want to form the Depositories of My Life, of My Works, of My Pains, of My tears—of everything. But these do not depart from Me if they are not recognized. By not recognizing them, they prevent My step from drawing near to place in them what, with so much Love, I want to give; and besides, they would remain without the Effects, they would be like many blind who cannot see what is around them.

“On the other hand, the recognizing is sight for the soul, that makes the desire and the love arise, and therefore the Gratitude toward I who so much want to give; and they jealously keep My Treasure deposited in them, and, in the circumstances, they make use of My Life as Guide, of My Works in order to Confirm their works, of My Pains as support of their pains, and of My Tears in order to wash themselves if they are stained. And—O! how happy I AM that they make use of Me and of My Works in order to help themselves. This was My Purpose for coming upon earth—to remain like a Little Brother in their midst, and inside of them as help in their needs. As they recognize Me, I do nothing other than reflect Myself in them in order to Seal the Good that they have known; almost like sun that, by reflecting its light over plants and flowers, communicates the substance of the sweetness and of the colors—not just apparent, but in reality.

“So, if you want to receive much, seek to know what My Will did and does in Creation, and what It did in Redemption, and I will be Generous with you, and will deny you nothing of what I make you know. Even more, know that if I do not stop yet acting as your Teacher, to make known to you many other things that belong to Me, it is because I want to keep giving you what I make you know. I would not remain content if I did not have something to give, and always New Things to give to My daughter; therefore I anxiously wait for you to set in place, in your soul, what you have known, that you may retain it as your own thing. And while you set it in place, in order to help you set it, I keep caressing you, molding you, strengthening you; I expand your capacity—in sum, I Renew what I did in the Creation of the first creature. More so since, those being My Own Things that you have known and that I want to deposit in you, I do not want to trust anyone—not even yourself. I Myself, with My Own Creative Hands, want to prepare the place and deposit them in you; and in order to keep them safe, I surround them with My Love, with My Strength, and with My Light as Guard. Therefore, be attentive, let nothing escape you, and in this way you will give Me the field to be able to give you the Most Beautiful Surprises.”

V31 – 3.5.33 –“Ah! there is neither Peace, nor Union, without My Divine Will! There is lacking one who places the cement in order to Reunite the divided parts and render it Strong against all the evils that can rise up. Therefore, your Jesus does nothing other then weep over the ruins of these more than over disordered Jerusalem, that instead of recognizing their Messiah, ignored Him and gave Him death. The same for My Divine Will, It becomes ignored while It is in the midst of them, and in them, and they form of their souls little disordered cities that constrain Me to make Me repeat the threat that ‘not a stone will remain on a stone’ for them, because without My Divine Will they are citadels without a king, therefore they have neither one who protects them, nor who defends them, nor who administers to them the necessary foods in order to do Good and not let them entangle themselves in evil. And I cry over their fate, and I pray that they recognize My Divine Will, Love It and let It Reign; and you pray together with Me.”

V32 – 3.12.33 – “… My Fiat remains with the Sorrow of not having been recognized, and with the nightmare of not having given Its Divine Gifts, because not knowing It, one lacks the capacity and the will to receive Royal Gifts.

“I act as a king who, disguising himself, passes through the midst of the people. If they pay attention to him, even though he does not wear royal garments they know him by his ways, by his face. And gathering around him they will give him the honors of king and they will ask for gifts and favors. And the king will award the attention of those who recognize him disguised, and he will give them even more of what they want. And to those who do not recognize him, he will pass unnoticed, without giving them anything. Even more, because they themselves do not ask him for anything, believing him to be one of the ordinary people.

            “In the same way does My Divine Will act when It is recognized under the Garments of created things. It reveals Itself and It does not wait like the king to be asked for gifts and favors, but It Itself says: ‘I am here, what do you want?’ And It Super-Abounds in giving Gifts and Celestial Favors. But It goes further than the king, Bilocating Itself, It gives Its own Life to the creature who has known It, that which the king does not do.

“Now you also can say, ‘I am Will of God,’ and make of yourself the covering, the Garment that hides My Divine Will. Not only if you recognize It in all created things, but if you recognize It in yourself, if you give It the Dominion in all your acts, and if all that which the covering makes of your being you place at Its Service in order to make Its Life grow in you, It will fill you so much that nothing will remain of you except just the Garment, that will serve only as covering. And you will be Happier than all the created things, because you will be the Living Covering, such that you will divide together with It Its Joys, Its Happiness, and also Its Infinite Sorrows because It wants to be the Life of each creature, but ungrateful they do not give It the Full Dominion. In sum, you will always Live together, keeping each other Perennial Company, forming one single Life.”

The Seven Sorrows Devotion

click image for meditations on the Seven Sorrows Devotion

HERE ARE THE SEVEN GRACES:

1. I will grant peace to their families.
2. They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
3. I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.
5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.
6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother.
7. I have obtained from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.

Mater Dolorosa

• The prophecy of Simeon. (St. Luke 2:34, 35)
• The flight into Egypt. (St. Matthew 2:13, 14)
• The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple. (St. Luke 2: 43-45)
• The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross.
• The Crucifixion.
• The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross.
• The burial of Jesus.

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PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF KNOCK, IRELAND
Eleventh Century Irish Litany of Mary

Great Mary,
Greatest of Marys,
Greatest of Women,
Mother of Eternal Glory,
Mother of the Golden Light,
Honor of the Sky,
Temple of the Divinity,
Fountain of the Gardens,
Serence as the Moon,
Bright as the Sun,
Garden Enclosed,
Temple of the Living God,
Light of Nazareth,
Beauty of the World,
Queen of Life,
Ladder of Heaven,
Mother of God.

Pray for us.  

information found at: http://catholictradition.org/Mary/snows.htm

A WEALTHY aristocrat and devout Christian known by tradition as John lived in Rome in the fourth century. He and his wife had no children, and were fearful that their lack of an heir would put an end to the family’s long prominence in the government of the city. They had often prayed for a child but without success. One day John’s wife said, “Let us ask the Blessed Virgin to nominate an heir.” They did so, and their prayer was answered dramatically.

SNOW IN AUGUST

In August 352 a rectangle of snow was discovered on Mount Esquiline, one of the famous Seven Hills. Snowfall of any sort was unheard of in Rome at that time of year, but that it had fallen only in one place and in such a specific pattern was regarded as a phenomenon. People crowded to see the patch of snow, which persisted despite the heat. John was convinced that its shape and size indicated that a church should be built on the spot. In fact both John and the Pontiff had dreamt that Our Lady desired a church to be built on Mount Esquiline. The Holy Father was so moved by his dream that he visited the mysterious snowfall. When he arrived with his retinue, John and his wife were already there kneeling in prayer to the Virgin.

As soon as the plot for the building had been staked out the snow melted. John met the cost of the building, which was completed in 354 and was dedicated the Basilica Liberiana. Seventy years later the church was rebuilt on a grander scale by Pope Sixtus III, who added decorations and ornaments of silver. From then the church was known as Basilica Sixti and the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore [St. Mary Major].

THE PRODIGY OF THE SNOW IS TRUE

The new basilica housed a celebrated painting provided by the Pope. It had belonged to St. Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine—–the same Helen who, according to tradition, had made a pilgrimage to Palestine and discovered the original Cross of Christ. The picture, painted on a slab of cedar wood, is of a Madonna and Child. [We were unable to obtain a print of the painting.] The infant Jesus is holding a book and both figures are haloed and crowned—–the crowns presented by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 as a thank-offering for deliverance from cholera.

The so-called ‘new’ Lady Chapel was built by Pope Paul V in 1613 to house the miraculous painting. He declared, “This image should have a magnificent place of its own, befitting its eminence. For it has always been regarded by all faithful people and through it many miracles and wonders have been wrought.”

Salus Populi Romana [Salvation of the Roman People] is the title of this famous painting and it is rightly named because for centuries the people of Rome have prayed before it in times of famine, war and national crisis.

Many popes have held the basilica on Mount Esquiline in particular regard. When Gregory I was Pope [590-604] Rome was ravaged by a plague. Gregory carried the image of the Holy Mother in procession from the chapel as far as Hadrian’s Mausoleum. When the procession arrived they heard an invisible heavenly choir singing Regina Caeli. When the Pope asked the Virgin to pray for the city he saw an apparition of St. Michael replacing the sword of vengeance in its scabbard. The plague abated.

Pope Benedict XIV had a special affection for the legend. In 1427 he declared, “It must be acknowledged that nothing is wanting to enable us to affirm with moral certainty that the prodigy of the Snow is true: Benedict XVI attended the holy picture every Saturday and prayed the Litany. The night before he died, Paul V asked to be taken to the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin in order to pray before her image. St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, said his first Mass here at Christmas 1538.

ANGELS SING THE RESPONSES

The Chapel of the Virgin Salus Populi Romani [Protectress of the Roman People] is very close to the historic heart of the Catholic Church, so it is not surprising that many stories have enriched its tradition over the centuries. It is said that once when Pope Gregory the Great was celebrating Mass in the chapel and intoning the words “Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum,” he heard a choir of Angels sing the response “Et cum spiritu tuo.” From that day the custom in the chapel was to omit that section of the Mass in the belief that it was being offered and sung by the Angels.

THE BASILICA TODAY

The present-day church is one of the largest basilicas in the world and its Patronal Festival is held on  August 5 in remembrance of the miracle of the snow. During this celebration hundreds of white blossoms are showered from the dome of the chapel. Not to be missed are the thirteenth-century mosaics on biblical themes and the frescoes by Reni and Della Porta. There is an imposing Romanesque belltower erected in 1377.

Santa Maria Maggiore has a further claim to fame. In the seventh century a relic was brought from Bethlehem and traditionally venerated as the manger in which the Christ Child was laid at the first Christmas. And so another name for the great basilica is St. Mary of the Crib.

One of the most spectacular sights which meets today’s pilgrim is the triumphal arch which extends to almost 66 feet. It is decorated in four horizontal sections. In the middle at the top God’s throne is set in a circle, with St. Peter and St. Paul on either side. Above this mosaic are the symbols of the four Gospel writers.

On November 12, 1964 Pope Paul VI made a pilgrimage to the basilica and solemnly proclaimed Our Lady “Mother of the Church.”

On August 5 the anniversary of the miraculous snow fall, the Feast of Our Lady of Snows is celebrated at the basilica of her name. White petals are scattered throughout the place.

The Heart of St Philip’s Apostolate is Beating Strong Half a Millennium after his Birth

Five hundred years ago today, on July 21 1515, St Philip Neri, the founder of the Oratorians was born in Florence. It is an anniversary that is dear to my heart, because a key reason I moved to London was to be near the London Oratory and be in a position to assist at Mass there. When the London Oratory was first opened in 1884, the Brompton Road location was thought to be removed from the centre of town, an idea that surely makes St Philip chuckle in Heaven today!

St Philip spent 60 years in the Eternal City, and is known as the Apostle of Rome. He would spend whole nights in deep prayer in the Catacombs and during the day he would visit the sick in hospital. St Philip is often called the founder of a religious order, but this is not true, because The Oratorians are not a religious order at all. They are a group of secular priests living in a community under a rule. But each Oratorian does not lead the life of a secular priest – they are not moved from church to church by their bishop. A man who feels called to be an Oratorian enters a particular Oratory with the intention of remaining there all his life. But each priest is not bound to the Congregation of the Oratory by a vow or promise, and is free at any time to leave and join a religious order. What is the bond that binds them? They are united by a bond of love, which is fitting because their founder is the patron saint of joy. Every house of the Oratory governs itself and is independent of the others.

The very beginning of the Congregation of the Oratory was in around 1552 when St Philip would gather groups of young laymen for prayer, discussion and reading. Over time, these meetings were moved from St Philip’s private quarters to “an oratory” (which simply means a place of prayer). In the first instance, they found a place in the church of San Girolamo. The Congregation grew from these very prayer meetings, and one of St Philip’s favourite expressions was, “give me ten truly detached men and I do not despair of converting the world with them.”

For modern Catholics, the Oratory signifies loyalty to Rome, while having remarkably reverent liturgies. Nowadays attending the Oratory (perhaps in the Oxford Oratory or in the Brompton Oratory) has become synonymous with a desire to worship in a pre-Vatican II way. But down through the years, I’ve known Catholics of all stripes who love to pray there because there is a time of silence before and after Mass, which allows the brain to become quiet, freeing it from noisy distractions that might divert our attention from raising our hearts and minds to God. The odd time I have seen a celebrity a few pews away, but never have I seen someone interrupt them when they are praying. The Oratory is a selfie-free zone.

The heart of St Philip’s apostolate, bringing people together in prayer in “an oratory”, is still beating strong and is a source of spiritual lifeblood to the many who attend the Oratories all over the world. St Philip was canonised in 1622 on the same day as St Teresa of Avila, St Ignatius and St Isidore. The joke that went round Rome was, “today they canonised three Spaniards and one saint”.

From the Book of Heaven

V10 – 1.17.11 – “Daughter, what you wrote about the Reunions of Priests is nothing but a process that I AM making with them. If they listen to Me – fine. But if they don’t, since the leaders of the ecclesiastics will not listen to Me because they too are bound by the laces of interest, and are slaves of human miseries, almost lapping them up – instead of dominating over those miseries, of interest, of high positions and the like, the miseries dominate them; therefore, since they are deafened by what is human, I will be neither understood nor listened to – I will turn to the civilian leaders, who will listen to Me more easily. Because of their desire to see the priest humiliated, and also because maybe these are a little more stripped than the ecclesiastics themselves, My Voice will be more listened to; and what they do not want to do out of love, I will make them do by necessity and by force, and I will make the government take away what is left to them.”

And I: ‘My Highest and only Good, what will be the name to be given to these Houses, and what the Rules?’

And He: “The name will be: The Houses of the Resurrection of the Faith. As for the Rules, they can use the same Rules as the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri.”

click here for more on St. Philip Neri

The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to be missed

Make this special plenary indulgence known to those on your email list!

Please make plans to attend Holy Mass, receive Communion, and then go to the Sacrament of Confession –  eight days before or after Aug. 2

The conditions to obtain the Plenary Indulgence of the Forgiveness of Assisi is (for oneself or for a departed soul) is as follows:

The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to be missed—not only for yourself but for the many suffering souls in Purgatory. …

Sacramental Confession to be in God’s grace (during eight days before or after.) …

Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharist …

Recitation of The Apostles Creed, Our Father and also a prayer for the Pope’s Intention (such as an Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.).

Mark your calendar for the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels beginning at Vespers (Noon) on the First of August to August 2nd at Midnight. Tell everyone of the magnitude of this gift. Once again, we see the unfathomable Divine Mercy of God.

http://dcsfo.org/portiuncula_indulgence_pamphlet.pdf  read more

The Portiuncula Indulgence

Mark your calendar for the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels beginning on the First of August to August 2.

Saint Francis of Assisi and Great Pardon Known as the The Portiuncula Indulgence

 by Susan Tassone 

The Portiuncula (small portion) refers to the land in Assisi, Italy, that belonged to the Benedictines.

On this land  was an old church dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God but abandoned.

The great St. Francis had great devotion to the queen of the world and when he saw that the church was deserted, he began to live there constantly and repair it.  He heard that the angels often visited it, so that it was called St. Mary of the Angels.

The Benedictines wanted to give Francis the church but in order to remain faithful to Lady Poverty, Francis rented it from them with the annual compensation of a basket of fish from the Tescio river.

Here is where Francis began his service to Christ and His Church. Here Francis founded his Order, received Clare as his spiritual daughter, and where he died commending this spot above all others to the friars.

 St. Francis had great love and compassion for everyone.

On a night of July, 1216, Francis was praying in the little church of the Portiuncula devoured by love for God and a thirst to save souls. He prayed for the forgiveness of sins of mankind.

Suddenly a brilliant light shone all around. In great splendor Jesus and Mary appeared in the midst of a dazzling cloud surrounded by a multitude of radiant angels.

Out of fear and reverence, St. Francis adored Our Lord prostrate upon the ground.

Then Jesus said to him: “Francis you are very zealous for the good of souls. Ask me what you want for their salvation.” St. Francis was rapt in ecstasy before Jesus.

When he regained his courage he said:

“Lord, I a miserable sinner beg You to concede an indulgence to all those who enter this church, who are truly contrite and have confessed their sins. And I beg Blessed Mary, your Mother, intercessor of man, that she intercede on behalf of this grace.”

Our Lady at once began to beseech her son on behalf of Francis. Jesus answered:

“It is a very great thing that which you ask Me; but you are worthy of even greater things, Friar Francis, and greater things you will have. So I accept your request, but I want you to go to my Vicar, to whom I have given the power to bind and loose in Heaven and on earth, to ask him on my behalf for this indulgence.”

With one of his companions, Francis hastened to Pope Honorius III and prostrate implored him to proclaim that every one visiting the church and confessing their sins with a contrite heart would be as pure from all sin and punishments as he was immediately after baptism. The Pope granted this petition. This indulgence has been extended to all parish churches throughout the world.

The date was set from vespers of the first of August until sundown on the second of August, the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels. It is said that St. Francis was given this day by Our Lord because the Feast of the Chains of St. Peter celebrated on August first is the day Peter was released from prison and his chains removed. This is an extraordinary demonstration of God’s mercy in removing the chains of sin from those who devoutly and faithfully seek to gain the indulgence by completing its requirements.

The conditions to obtain the Plenary Indulgence of the Forgiveness of Assisi is (for oneself or for a departed soul) as follows:

—    Sacramental Confession to be in God’s grace (during eight days before or after.)

—    Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharist

—    Recitation of The Apostles Creed, Our Father and a prayer for the Pope’s Intention.

 The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to miss not only for yourself but for the many suffering souls in Purgatory.

Mark your calendar for the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels beginning on the First of August to August 2.

Tell everyone of the magnitude of this gift. Once again, we see the unfathomable Divine Mercy of God.

 In the words of St. Francis: O my Brothers and Sisters, I want you all to go to Heaven!